March 30, 2026, 2:27 am | Read time: 4 minutes
The placebo effect has been known in medicine for some time, but can it also show its effects in training? Researchers from Norway investigated this question–with a surprising result.
Parents put a bandage on a child’s small wound, and suddenly it doesn’t hurt anymore. Or seniors receive a vitamin pill believing it’s medication, and they seem to feel better. These are just two examples of the placebo effect as applied in a medical context. Research has already shown that this is not just imagination, but actual processes triggered in the body.1 But can one also “cheat” their way to greater training success in a similar manner? A 2023 study from the University of Agder in Norway provided intriguing insights.2
Study Procedure
To determine if the placebo effect exists in training, Norwegian researchers compared different training measures among their participants. These consisted of 40 athletes (31 men, 9 women) who underwent a ten-week training intervention. Beforehand, they completed a series of physical tests, based on which an allegedly personalized training program was created for some participants (for the potential placebo effect).
Comparison of Training Measures
Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (placebo group) was told they would undergo training personalized to their strength-speed profile. The other participants were informed they were the control group without personalized training. In reality, all 40 participants trained with the same program.
Performance Diagnostics
Subsequently, researchers collected data through various measurements in the field of sports performance diagnostics to assess training success. These included:
- The Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) to determine explosive power in jumping
- The 20-meter sprint to test speed
- The One-Repetition Maximum (1RM) in the squat to check the maximum weight participants could lift
- An ultrasound examination of the thickness of the thigh muscle (M. rectus femoris)
Additionally, the scientists conducted a strength test on the leg press and had participants fill out a questionnaire to determine their placement on the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale. The questions specifically created for the scale can provide insight into a person’s expectations–such as before a medical treatment or, in this case, before starting the training program. Since a placebo effect depends on the expectation of a positive outcome or belief in it, this parameter was crucial for the study.
Also interesting: Ever heard of the “Nocebo” effect?
The Placebo Effect on Training and Performance
Indeed, although both groups underwent the same training, differences in training success were observed. “It was found that those who believed they had received a personalized training program achieved better results on average than the control group,” explained Kolbjørn Andreas Lindberg, one of the study authors, in a press release.3 The placebo effect was particularly evident in the 1-RM test in the squat and in the measured muscle thickness.
However, no placebo effect was observed on speed and jump height. There was no significant difference between the groups in the 20-meter sprints and jump tests.
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Placebo Group Was More Diligent
Additionally, researchers found higher adherence in the placebo group compared to the control group. This simply means that members of the placebo group followed the training program guidelines more closely. Perhaps this was because they were thoroughly briefed beforehand on the specific training and goals they would be pursuing. They may have had a higher ambition to give their best and achieve the set goal.
“It may be a bit surprising that placebo applies to sports as well. But when you think about it, it makes sense,” Lindberg summarized the study findings. “There were indications that participants who believed they were following a personal program trained a bit more and with higher intensity. Many such small factors can influence the outcome.”
Assessment
We want to note: There were intriguing indications that a placebo effect can also occur in the training context. However, the ‘miracle effect’ had its limits in the study. While leg strength increased significantly, there were hardly any differences between the groups in sprinting and jumping. Additionally, this was a small study with few participants who trained independently. Precisely for this reason, the researchers suspected that the placebo group, due to their high expectations, simply completed each training session with a bit more determination and quality–and were ultimately rewarded for it.